New Member, New (to me) VFR

Hi all,

I'm Jack, and I just had delivered my new (to me) 1999 VFR 800.

Getting the plates for it in a day or two, activating the insurance, and I will be riding in no time. I'm here in northern Italy, so the weather is just starting to get bearable enough to ride in.

This is my first street bike, though I've been riding on dirt since I was 12 or so. Have been reading quite a bit in the past few days on this forum, thought this would be a good place to jump into.

Thanks,
~Jack

 

Congrats and welcome aboard....good job on getting the fastest color

 

Welcome, thats a good looking bike. Ride safe.

 

Welcome to the viffer world

 

I've never seen a yellow VFR with white rims before. It looks surprisingly good! Corbin seat and carbon fiber exhaust too? Nice! A Zero Gravity windshield would look good in there too.

Welcome to the forums.

 

Welcome to the site. But you have been mis-informed. Everyone knows red is the fastest color. Enjoy the bike even if it isnt the fastest one.

 

Yellow "may" be the fastest colour.... BUT red gets the bitches !!

Congrats. And agree, have never seen a yellow one with white rims and red decals, looks very nice.

Now tell us what mods you have installed for her......

 

Jack - welcome to the madhouse!

Its great to see another member over here in Europe.

Hopefully the weather will pick up soon and you will get a chance to hear that V4 roar.

Sadly its been snowing again today, on this side of the Alps, but the weather Gods promise dry but cold weather on Sunday. So if you want to see how well yellow stands out in a crowd then why not join the Spadino ride on Sunday. As you will see - among the Men in Black there was at least one bright yellow VFR among the Italian group last year! arriver des italiens spadino 2012 avec les mib (13).mp4 - YouTube

The Italian contingent will be meeting down in Morgex 14° MEMORIAL SPADINO - Morgex 07/04/2013
before heading on masse for the tunnel and I plan to be among the huge FFMC group coming through the tunnel from France to join them.

PS At this time of the year heated grips are a very good investment.

SkiMad

 

I divorced a bitch some 30 years ago and never looked back. The Pearl Whites gets the hotties and it is arguable it is so fast, it becomes invisible. Welcome to the forum and bike. Nice looking ride you have. I agree with the Zero Gravity windscreen idea. But get one that is dark smoked. That would look great against the yellow bike.

 

I would love to, but I just got the bike, and it was a gift. It came to me with the Carbon exhaust and the Corbin seat, as well as a Garmin mount and the white rims. I don't even quite know yet what "mods" are available, though I've been playing around with EL Wire recently...we shall see.

At the moment, I'm just waiting for the plates to arrive so I can activate the insurance. Then I'll be able to get out there on some of the amazing Alpine roads.

Oh, something I didn't mention earlier, I am actually an American ex-pat. Moved to Italy last October, don't yet speak fluent Italian (yet), haven't fully explored the country. Haven't had time, what with moving in, learning the language, and trying to start a business.

Anywho, thanks for all the comments, and keep the suggestions for good rides (and mods for my ride) coming.

~Jack

 

Jack - welcome! Hmmmmm, I would love to move to Italy when I get old - guess 58 isn't old yet. I am looking into possible dual citizenship as my great grandfather never became an American citizen way back when. My family is from Calabria, the town of Nicotera . Lots of paperwork to gather and research to do on that project though. Enjoy the riding.

 

I should amend my previous statements, my VFR is a 1998, not a '99. Just got the tag today, and saw that on the registration. At least I had the right Generation though! (I doubt you all would have let me get away with calling a Gen4 a Gen5, in any case)

Now to activate the Insurance, and take it out into this amazing weather we are having.

~Jack

 

Congrats on owning the best bike in the world! Looks like you got some nice bits on it already...is that a sat nav holder? Did the exhaust come with the baffles? Don't know what the noise laws are like in Italy but if they are anything like over here the police wont like the sound as much as you

I expect you can get some good givi things for it a bit cheaper than I can to!

 

Hey Valentino,

Yeah, that is a garmin mount, although not for a garmin I own. I'll be looking to replace it with something to hold and power my phone (google maps ftw). And the exhaust is pre-baffled, though with the noise some of the local kids make buzzing my house, I don't think it would be an issue even if I removed the exhaust completely.

I'm looking for some good panniers, since this is currently my only form of motorized transport that isn't a train.

~Jack

 

Well I love my E21's on mine. The place I ordered them from kept asking if im sure I want them due to them being much smaller than people think. It's want I wanted so I can still filter as they hardly stick out I don't need to worry bout them.

Just check the electrics. The battery died on mine recently and checked everything over and all good. But you'll see a mountain of posts all over the web talking about the regulator/rectifier.

 

Just checked everything today, and had a mechanic I trust look over the electrics before I bought the thing.

I'll think about the E21's. I have to save some cash right now for gas, but those may be my next purchase. Yours look great in your profile pic.

~Jack

 

Took a short, 11.7 mile ride today, my first ride on the new VFR.

And I have a dead headlight. Damnit.

Other than that though, the bike is the smoothest, most comfortable thing I have ever ridden. I think I'm hooked.

~Jack

 

Once you've ironed out all the kinks and sorted out anything wrong the previous owner left for you, you'll love her more and more